Toy device



April 2, 1940. J. QCHOA l 2,195,824

' TOY DEVICE Filed 0G13. 26, 1939 Q' @ff BY ATTORNEY Patented Apr. a `14940 I' UNITED STATES v'roy DEVICE PAT-ENT foi-*Ficen Jos Ochoa, San Francisco, Calif.

vApplicationOctober 26, 1939, Serial No. 301,441

ya 11 claims. (or. 28o-1.17)

This invention relates tol a toy device and more particularly to the type of toy.` device which may be propelled by manualjefort of ay rider thereof. The invention is especially related to thosetypes i: of toydevices which simulate the formof ananiv `mal, the natural movement of which is withnan undulating motion, such as the jumping-of arabbit, the leap of a deeror the gallop of av horse. -The object of ythe `invention is to provide a toy device which may be manually operated by a rider to propel thedeVic-e in a manner simulating the motions of a natural animal. A further object of vthe invention is to provide a toy device in 1` position butare free to rotate in eitherdirection at another position'. A still further object isto provide a toy device simulating a body of an animal and'in which the head is movabley upwardly and downwardly, and is also movable from side` '2o to` side for steering purposes.`

*Withthe foregoing andother objects in'view, allor which will be more apparent as this description proceedsthe invention is exemplie'd in one yform in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described,y illustratedA in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out inthe claims. hereto appendedit being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and details of constructionof the 'o' apparatus may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims Without departing from lthe spirit or sacricing any of the advantagesof the invention.

To more clearly comprehend the invention, ref- 35 erence is directed to the'accompanyingdrawing` wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section ofthe device, thev head beingl shown in full, l,and dot-' and-dash'lines indicating movement of parts.

Fig. 2 is a plan view ofyinternal mechanism, the vbody being removed vto showy mechanical structure.` l

IFig. 3 is a transverse'vertical sectionon line III-' VIII of Fig; 1, and' Fig. 2.

I 45 Fig. 4 is an enlargeddetail of the lower end of the rear or propelling legs. Fig` 5f is an enlarged detail of head bracket mechanism; i i f Referringto the drawing, in whichlike char- `50 act'ers of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views,'IIl is a hollow body, whichv in this exemplification represents a body of a horse,A

but 4it is to be vunderstood that the invention is not limitedv to *the form of a horse but. maybe 5" equally -wellemployed with othei-forms of hollow which rollers on propelling legs are lockedat one v which the operative mechanism of ythe. device is mechanism by means of sliding the body over lo thehead and neck of the horse', the vhead, andl neck being small enough to pass through the 'infI clined opening I4 at the forward upper portion of the body. Thefopening I3'attheunder part of the lbody'is closed by a board or base I5 upon supported. At each of its opposite `'endsthe boardv or base I5 mounts a supporting-frame I6,which preferably compris'esva pair of relatively parallel bars Whichhave Vertical standard portions I-1, I8 at the respective ends joined by longitudinal bar portions I9, the latter also serving as a reinforce,- ment tothe back II and saddle I2; l f Steering vroller means are provided, comprising apair of front legs each' of which lis sup-v 25 ported uponafreely rotating roller 2|, vthe roller being securelyfastenedto the lower free end of the fronty legs as by strap plate 22.v Each fronty leg has avertically disposed pivot pin 23 at its upper end which has pivotal bearing in averti' 30 cally disposed housing 24 supported upon rthe, baseboard I5. An antifriction horizontal bearing 25fis interposed between the upper portion of "theY steering leg and alug 25 which is'connected to the b-aseboard I5, thus providing for a free` 35 and easy axial rotation of thefro'nt leg `on. its

'vertically disposedpivot 23, for purposes of guid-` ing the device.4 'I'he guiding of the movement of the device is accomplished by movement of the headv 21 from side to side bymeans'of reins 28 0' 'vheldby the rider. It will be'noted (see Fig, l), 'that the'head is pivotallymounted4 to move from side to side iin a horizontaly plane and also 'toA move upwardly and downwardly in a vertical plane. Mechanically the head is separated from 45 the hollowfbody Ill, the `collar29 kmerely serving to cover the'fseverance joint between the head and body. `Thehead a neck yportion 21a, the lower portion ofv which, I where it f is adjacent. to

' the bodyIIl, being of substantially the-same con- 50 tour/as, .but `slightly smaller than, lthe openingr I4 so that the opening .I4 will -readily passover said neck and head portion,v Centrally of yits 'lower face, ,the neck 2`Ighas` a tenonortongue which. isv Htlidablei upwardly@` and dovvnvvamily A in the clevis 3l of a bifurcated yoke which has pivotal mounting by pin 33 to the apex angle 34 of a two-armed lever 35. Each of the arms of the lever 55 are pivotally connected at 3G to one end of a link lever 3'1, which has its opposite end xedly secured to the top of pivot pin 23. Thus by moving the head of the horse from side to side the steering legs are rotatively moved upon their vertical pivots to turn the rollers of both front legs in unison for Uuiding the device. It will be noted that the weight` of the head of the horse is not supported upon this steering means.

The head 2l is supported on the forward standards E5 by means of a clamp which en both of said standards adjacent the top ti.. Jee.. The clamp 38 has an opening therethrough within which is loosely mounted a headed colt member 39 which dependsdownwardly, the lower end of which may be reciprocated fcrwardy and rearwardly due to the loose pivotal mounting of the bolt at its upper end. The boit mounts a bracket t0 which `is angularin shape, and forms, with the bolt, somewhat of a triangle with the bolt as the hypotenuse, said bracket and bolt being mounted on the clamp 38 to both swing and pivot thereon. The tenen ofthe head 2'! is securely amxed to the upper :side of the bracket 12,9 by suitable means such as screws As heretofore stated, the head is pivotally nloved from side to side by means the reins 2S; it is moved upwardly and downwardly by the swinging of the bracket l5 by mechanism hereafter described. Y

Means are provided for propelling the device in a manner simulating, to a degree, the movement of a natural animal. At each lateral side of the rear end of the baseboard l5 there are depending propelling legs 5d which are mounted for horizontally pivoting on the transverse pivot shaft 5l, the ends of'which are journalled in bearings 52 mounted on the baseboard I5 by bolts 53. vThe propelling legs are each rigidly secured at. the upper end, as by bolts 54, to an L-shaped treadle lever 55 which extends upwardlyfrom the leg and is turned forwardly of the body to a point substantially underlying the saddle or seat l2 of the driver. At their forward ends, the treadle levers of the respective legs are joined by a cross-bar 56 so that they move upwardly and downwardly in unison. Adjacent said forward end and bar 5G there is mounted suitablev means whereby the rider may move the treadle levers 55 upwardly and downwardly, and as herein exemplied comprises stirrup straps 5l which roll upon rollers 58 to prevent wear thereon, a stirrup 59 being provided at the free end. The L-shaped levers 55 are also connected 'at their rear end by a cross-bar which likewise braces the levers and assures that the levers and the propelling legs on the opposite sides will move in unison; At the lower ends of each of the propelling legs 50 there is a rotatable roller 6| mounted to each propelling leg by an elongated longitudinally curved plate 62one end of which supports an axle S3 upon which the roller rotates and the other end of which is pivotally mounted as at 64 to the propelling leg. Intermediate the ends of plate 62 it has a sliding fulcrum which is illustrated herein as a pin S5 iixedly secured adjacent the end of the propelling leg and engaged by a'slot 66 in the plate 62. With this construction, when the propelling leg is in a forwardly position, the pin 65 is at `the rear end of slot 66 and the free end of the leg or hoof is .so formed that when the leg is in a forward position the 'hoof rests upon the peripheral rim of the roller 6| and serves as a brake against rotation of the roller 6l in either direction. Vfhen the lever is pressed downwardly by the rider, the propelling leg 5D is forced rearwardly on the pivot 5l. By such movement, the axis of rotation of the roller 53 is shifted from a position forwardly of the pivot E4 and fulcrum pin 65, to a position rearwardly of fulcrum 65, and substantially in vertical alignment with the pivot 54. As a consequence thereof, the pin is moved to the forward end of slot G5 which frees the end or hoof of the propelling leg from its contact with the roller and permits the roller to roll freely in either direction, clockwise or counterclockwise. 'Ihe force thus imparted propels the device forward on its rollers which'are'then freely running. The rider may maintain this free running condition by continuing to hold the stirrup down until the device stops rolling. It will be noted that the rider may also hold the treadle levers down with one foot and thus is able to use the other foot to reach the floor and propel the horse rearwardly in order to get it out of corners or to turn it around. A stop means 68 is provided in the path of movement of the treadle lever 55, and it is so arranged and positioned that the downward movement of the lever is limited so that, at the maxlmum downward stroke of the lever, the axis of rotation of the rollers on the propelling legs will not pass'iearwardly of the vertical transverse plane A-A of the pivot 5I thus when the rider takes the weight off of the stirrup and puts his weight more rearwardly upon the saddle, the propelling legs will be tln'own forward to their position where they are again locked due to the sliding of the pin 55 to the other end of slot 56 when the roller axis reaches the point forwardly of pivot GG. Although the lever 55 is L-shaped for purposes of mechanical construction, the moment arm of leverage B is from the pivot 5l to the point of attachment of the'stirrups adjacent cross-bar 55; and from pivot 5i the force is thence exerted upon thehpropelling leg. It is preferred that the said moment arm shall be substantially at right angles or perpendicular to the line C from the transverse pivot 5l to the rotative axis 63, since this angle has been found to give an extremely efficient propulsive force to the propelling legs.

In order to reduce the impact of the parts in operation, the stop member 68 may be made of a resilient material, and there may be provided a spring shock-absorbing means lil which may be clamped as at 'Il to the rear standards Il of the supporting frame, so that on the rebound stroke, the cross-bar lill comes in contact with the spring shock-absorber 'it'.

Mounted upon the vertical leg 55a of the ylever 55, is a reciprocatinY rod 'I3 pivotally connected at one end T to a shaft '15, the latter in turn being transversely of and connecting the two levers 55. At its other end, the rod 73 is pivotally connected to the lower end of bolt 39. Therefore, upon the downward movement of lever 55, which moves the vertical lever arm 55a forwardly, the rod 'I3 will move the end of bolt 39 forwardly, and thus tilt the bracket 4G upwardly thereby raising the horses head each time the propelling legs are moved rearwardly. It is obvious that upon the upstroke of lever 55, the arm 55a is again moved rearwardly, which returns the head of the horse to its lower, or what may be termed its normal, position. The rod 73 is stabilized against lateral movement at itsforward end by operation through a slot in a plate 16 mounted between'the upright standards I8 at the forward end of frame I9, and thus prevents the horses head from wobbling, without preventing it from being moved directly upwardly and downwardly, or turned from side to side on its pivoted bracket. Since there is sliding relationship between the tenon 30 and the clevis 3| of yoke 32, the up and down movement of the horses head does not interfere in any way with the mechanism which operates to steer the rollers of the front legs. i

If desired, the legs may slant outwardlyl fro their mounting on the body to give a broader base and more stability to the toy.

It may at times be desirable to have the device freely rotatable without operation of the lever by a rider; for instance, incase a child became fatigued in operating the device and it was necessary to use the device in the nature of 'a go-cart, or if it is desired to roll the device either thereof is free to rotate on its laxis in eitherr direction.

While normally the weight of a child riding the device will return the propelling legs to their forward position when weight upon the lever 55 is released, nevertheless, if desired, suitable springs may be employed to facilitate suchfoperation. Such springsI are shown herein as coil springs 18, each of which has one end connected to one of therear standards l1 and the other end connected to the transverse shaft 'l5 upon which the reciprocating rod 13 has its pivotal mounting.

I claim: f

1. A device of the character described comprising a body having a seat for supporting a rider, a pair of depending steering legs having vertically disposed pivotal mounting at one end of said body, a pair of depending propelling legs having a transversely horizontally disposed Apivotal mounting at the other end of said body, each of -said legs having av rotatable roller at a free end thereof, a rocking lever manuallyoperable for actuating the propelling legs on the transverse pivots from a forwardly position to a rearwardly position, and means for locking the rollers of the propelling legs against rotation at said forwardly position and releasing said rollers for rotation ineither directio-nl at said. rearward position.

2. A device of the character described comprising a body having a seat forsupporting a rider, a pair of depending steering legs having vertically disposed pivotal mounting at one end of said body, a pair of depending propelling legs v'having a transversely horizontally disposed pivotal mounting at the other end of said body, each of said legs having a rotatable roller at a free end thereof, a rocking lever manually operable for actuating vthe propelling legs on the transverse pivots froma forwardly position to a rearwardly rearwardlyof the transverse vertical plane of the horizontal transverse pivot. 3. A device of the character described comprising a body having `a seat for supporting a rider, a pair of depending steering legs each having vertically disposed pivotal mounting at one end of said body, a pair of depending propelling legs having a transversely horizontally disposed pivotal mounting at the other end of said body, each of said legs having a rotatable roller at a free end thereof, a rocking lever manually operable for actuating the propelling legs on the transverse pivots from a forwardly position to a rearwardly position, means for locking the rollers of the propelling legs against rotation at said forwardly position and releasing said rollers for rotation in either direction at said rearward position,

'a head at one end portion of said body having a pivotal mounting so that the head may be turned toopposite sides of the body, and a linked lever connection between the head and the steering legs whereby the steering legs' may be pivotally rotated in unison for guiding the rollers thereof.

4. A device of the character described comprising a body having a seat for supporting a rider,

a pair of depending steering legs having vertically l disposed pivotal `mounting at one end of said body, a pair of depending propelling legs having a'transversely horizontally disposed pivotal mounting at the other end of said body, each of said legs having a rotatable roller at a free` end thereof, a rocking lever 4manually operable for actuating the propelling legs on the transverse pivots from a forwardly position to a rearwardly position, means for locking the rollers of the propelling legs against rotation at said forwardly position and releasing said rollers for rotation in either direction at saidrearward position, the last mentioned means comprising a plate having one end pivotally mounted onthefpropelling leg and having the roller journalled therein at its other end and a fulcrum connection with said leg intermediate said plate -ends whereby the free end of the propelling jleg contacts the tire of the roller at the forwardly position and is released from such contact at ythe rearward position.

' 5. A device of the character described comprising a bodyhavingy a seat for supporting a'rider, y

pivots from a forwardly position to a rearwardly position, means for locking the rollers of the propelling legs against rotation atvsaid forwardly position-and releasing said rollers for rotation in either direction at said rearward position,

the last mentioned means comprising a .plate having one' end pivotally mounted o-n thenpropeiling leg and having the roller journalled therein at its other end and a fulcrum connection with said leg intermediate said plate ends whereby the free end of the propelling legcontacts the tire of the roller at the forwardly position and is released from such Contact at the rearward position, and stop meansI in the line of movement of the rocking lever to delimit the movement thereof at a position which` prevents the axis of rotation of the rollers of the propelling legs from moving rearwardly of the transverse vertical plane of the horizontal transverse pivot.

6. A device of the character described comprising a body having a seat for supporting a rider, a pair of depending steering legs having vertically disposed pivotal mounting at one end of said body, a pair of depending propelling legs having a transversely horizontally disposed pivotal mounting at the other end of said body, each of said legs having a rotatable roller at a free end thereof, a rocking lever manually operable for actuating the propelling legs on the transverse pivots from a forwardly position to a rearwardly position, means for locking the rollers of the` propelling legs against rotation at said forwardly position and releasing said rollers for rotation in either direction at said rearward position, the last mentioned means comprising a plate having one end pivotally mounted on the propelling leg and having the roller journalled therein at its other end and a fulcrum connection with said leg intermediate said plate ends whereby the free end oi the propelling leg contacts the tire of the roller at the forwardly position and is released from such contact at the rearward position, stop means in the line of movement of the rocking lever to delimit the movement thereof at a position which prevents the axis of rotation of the rollers of the propelling legs from moving rearwardly of the transverse vertical plane of the horizontal transverse pivot, a head at one end portion of said body having a pivotal mounting so that the head may be turned to opposite sides of the body, and a linked lever connection between the head and the steering legs whereby the steering legs may be pivotally rotated in unison for guiding the rollers thereof.

7. A device of the character described comprising a body having a seat for supporting a rider, a pair of depending steering legs having verticaliv disposed pivotal mounting at one end of said body, a pair of depending propelling legs having a transversely horizontally disposed pivotal mounting at the other end of said body, each of said legs having a rotatable roller at a free end thereof, a rocking lever manually operable for actuating the propelling legs on the transverse pivots from a forwardly position to a rearwardly position, means for locking the rollers of the propelling legs against rotation at said forwardly position and releasing said rollers for rotation in either direction at 'said rearward position, the last mentioned means comprising a plate having one end pivotally mounted on the propelling leg and having the roller journalled therein at its other end and a sliding fulcrum connection with said leg intermediate said plate ends whereby the free end of the propelling leg contacts the tire of the rollerat the forwardly position and is released from such contact at the rearward position, and stop means in the line of movement of the rocking lever to deliinit the movement thereof at a position which prevents the axis of rotation of the rollers of the propelling legs from moving rearwardly of the transverse vertical plane of the horizontal transverse pivot.

8. A device of the character described comprising a body having a seat for supporting a rider, a pair of depending steering legs having vertically disposed pivotal mounting at one end of said body, a pair of depending propelling legs having a transversely horizontally disposed pivotal mounting at the other end of said body, each of said legs having a rotatable roller at a free end thereof, a rocking lever manually operable for actuating the propelling legs on the transverse pivots from a forwardly position to a rearwardly position, means for locking the rollers of the propelling legs against rotation at said forwardly position and releasing said rollers for rotation in either direction at said rearward position, the last mentioned means comprising a plate having one end pivotally mounted on the propelling leg and having the roller journalled therein at its other end and a sliding fulcrum connection with said leg intermediate said plate ends whereby the free end of the propelling leg contacts the tire of the roller at the forwardly position and is released from such contact at the rearward position, stop means in the line of movement of the rocking lever` to delimit the movement thereof at a position which prevents the axis of rotation of the rollers of the propelling legs from moving rearwardly of the transverse vertical plane of the horizontal transverse pivot, a head at one end portion of said body, having a pivotal mounting so that the head may be turned to opposite sides of the body, and a linked lever connection between the head and the steering legs whereby the steerinCT legs may be pivotally rotated in unison for guiding the rollers thereof.

9. A device of the character described comprising a body having a seat for supporting a rider, steering means having vertically disposed pivotal mounting at one end of said body, a pair of depending propelling legs having a transversely horizontally disposed pivotal mounting at the other end of said body, the steering means and propelling legs each having a rotatable roller at a free end thereof, manually operable means for actuating the propelling legs on the transverse pivots from a forwardly position to a rearwardly position, means for locking the rollers of the propelling legs against rotation at said forwardly position and releasing said rollers for rotation at the rearwardly position, stop means in the line of movement of the actuating means of the propelling legs to delimit the movement thereof at a position which prevents the axis of rotation of the rollers of the propelling legs from moving rearwardly of the transverse vertical plane of the horizontal transverse pivot, a head at one end of said body having a pivotal mounting so that the head may be turned to opposite sides of the body, and means connecting the head and the steering means whereby the steering means may be pivotally rotated for guiding the roller thereof.

10. A device of the character described comprising a body having a seat for supporting a rider, steering means having vertically disposed pivotal mounting at one end of said body, a pair of depending propelling legs having a transversely horizontally disposed pivotal mounting at the other end of said body, the steering means and propelling legs each having a rotatable roller at a free end thereof, manually operable means for actuating the propelling legs on the transverse pivots from a forwardly position to a rearwardly position, means for locking the rollers of the propelling legs against rotation at said forwardly position and releasing said rollersy for rotation at the rearward position, stop means in the line of movement of the actuating means of the propelling legs for delimiting the movement thereof at a position which prevents the axis of rotation of the rollers of the propelling legs from moving rearwardly of the transverse vertical plane of the horizontal transverse pivot, a head at one end portion of said body having a pivotal mounting so that the head may be turned to opposite sides of the body, and upwardly and downwardly, a lever connection between the head and the steering means whereby the steering means may be pivotally rotated for guiding the device, and means operatively connected to the actuating means of the propelling legs for yactuating the movement of the head upwardly and downwardly.

11..A device oi the character described comprising a body having a seat for supporting a rider, a pair of depending steering legs having vertically disposed pivotal mounting at one end.

of said body, a pair of depending propelling legs having a transversely horizontally disposed pivotal mounting at the other end of said body, each of said legs having a rotatable roller at a free end thereof, a rocking lever manually operable for actuating the propelling legs on the transverse pivots from a forwardly position to a rearwardly position, means for locking the rollers of the propelling legs against rotation at said forwardly position and releasing said rollers for rotation in either direction at said rearward position, the last mentioned means comprising a plate having one end pivotally mounted on'the propelling leg and having the roller journalled therein at its other end and a sliding fulcrum connection with said leg intermediate said plate ends whereby the free end oi 'the propelling leg contacts the tire of the roller at the forwardly position and is released from such contact at the rearward position, stop means inthe line ofmovement of the rocking lever to delimit the movement thereof at a position which prevents the axisl of rotation of the rollers of the propelling legs from moving rearwardly of the transverse vertical plane of the horizontal transverse pivot, a head rat one end portion of said body having a pivotal mounting so that the head may be turned to opposite sides `of the body and upwardly and downwardly, a linked lever connection between the head and the steering legs whereby the steering legs may be pivotally rotated in unison for guiding the rollers thereof, and means operatively connected to the rocking leverior actuating the movement of the head upwardly and downwardly, the said rocking lever horizontally trans- Verse'pivot and rotative axis of the rollers on the propelling legs being relatively disposed so that JOS OCHOA. 

